Musical instrument lighting for visual performance effects

• US 20050126373A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advance Touchscreen And Gesture Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Advance Touchscreen And Gesture Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ludwig, Lester F.
• Application Number:
  US11/004,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/661
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/00 Details of electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/521 Hall effect transducers or similar magnetic field sensing semiconductor devices, e.g. for string vibration sensing or key movement sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/525 Piezoelectric transducers for vibration sensing or vibration excitation in the audio range; Piezoelectric strain sensing, e.g. as key velocity sensor; Piezoelectric actuators, e.g. key actuation in response to a control voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/095 Spint zither, i.e. mimicking any neckless stringed instrument in which the strings do not extend beyond the sounding board
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/101 Spint koto, i.e. mimicking any traditional asian-style plucked zither with movable bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/115 Spint sitar, i.e. mimicking any long-necked plucked string instrument with a large number of additional non-playable sympathetic resonating strings or an additional gourd-like resonating chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/145 Spint guitar keyboard, i.e. mimicking a combination of a guitar-like instrument, with or without strings, and a piano-like keyboard, e.g. with white and black keys arranged like on a piano
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/271 Spint gong, i.e. mimicking circular flat, nippled or bowl-shaped metallic percussion instruments G10H2230/321 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/18 using a string, e.g. electric guitar mechanical features G10D1/085
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/26 : using electric feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/10 : Feedback

Abstract

A lighting system for a musical instrument includes a transducer, a signal processor, and a controllable light source. The transducer generates a music signal responsive to user manipulation of a musical producing component of the musical instrument. The signal processor generates a control signal responsive to the music signal. The controllable light source, which is attachable to the musical instrument, emits light responsive to the control signal. The control signal may alternatively or additionally be controlled responsive to musical signals, user controls, floor controls, MIDI signals, and the like. In some situations, the control signal may be in MIDI format.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A lighting system for a musical instrument, comprising:

a transducer generating a music signal responsive to user manipulation of a musical producing component of said musical instrument;

a signal processor generating a control signal responsive to said music signal; and

a controllable light source attachable to said musical instrument, said light source emitting light responsive to said control signal.

40. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said signal processor generates said control signal responsive to an amplitude of said music signal.

41. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said signal processor generates said control signal responsive to a pitch of said music signal.

42. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said signal processor generates said control signal responsive to a timbre of said music signal.

43. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said signal processor generates said control signal responsive to an overtone variation of said music signal.

44. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said transducer is located adjacent to said light source.

45. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said musical instrument comprises vibrating strings.

46. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said light source is configured to illuminate hands of a musician playing said musical instrument.

47. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said musical instrument comprises a plurality of transducers, each generating a music signal responsive to user manipulation of said musical producing component, wherein

said signal processor generates said control signal responsive to said music signals generated by said plurality of transducers, and wherein

said controllable light source emits light responsive to said control signal.

48. The lighting system according to claim 39, wherein said musical instrument comprises a plurality of controllable light sources attachable to said musical instrument, said plurality of light sources emitting light responsive to said control signal.

49. A lighting system for a musical instrument, comprising:

a controllable light source, said light source emitting light responsive to control signals generated by a signal processing system which is externally located relative to said musical instrument; and

an attachment mechanism for attaching said controllable light source to said musical instrument.

50. The lighting system according to claim 49, further comprising:

a transducer generating a music signal responsive to user manipulation of a musical producing component of said musical instrument.

51. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said signal processing system is under stored program control.

52. The lighting system according to claim 51, wherein said stored program control comprises sequencing.

53. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to signals processed within said signal processing system.

54. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to signals extracted by said signal processing system.

55. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said signal processing system includes a foot controller, and wherein said control signals are generated responsive to user manipulation of said foot controller.

56. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said signal processing system receives a video signal, and wherein said control signals are generated responsive to said video signal.

57. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said signal processing system receives an incoming signal from a stage sensor, and wherein said control signals are generated responsive to said incoming signal.

58. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said signal processing system receives an incoming signal from a chemical sensor, and wherein said control signals are generated responsive to said incoming signal.

59. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said signal processing system receives a voice signal, and wherein said control signals are generated responsive to said voice signal.

60. The lighting system according to claim 59, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to recognized phonemes detected in said voice signal.

61. The lighting system according to claim 59, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to recognized words detected in said voice signal.

62. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to a MIDI signal.

63. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said control signals are MIDI signals.

64. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said musical instrument comprises vibrating strings.

65. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said light source is configured to illuminate hands of a musician playing said musical instrument.

66. The lighting system according to claim 49, wherein said musical instrument comprises a plurality of controllable light sources attachable to said musical instrument, each of said plurality of light sources emitting light responsive to said control signals.

67. The lighting system according to claim 66, wherein said signal processing system generates said control signals responsive to said music signal.

68. A lighting system for a musical instrument, comprising:

an actuator attachable to said musical instrument, said actuator generating control signals responsive to user manipulation of said actuator; and

a controllable light source attachable to said musical instrument, said light source emitting light responsive to said control signals.

69. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said actuator comprises a button.

70. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said actuator comprises a switch.

71. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said actuator comprises a touchpad.

72. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said actuator comprises a strumpad.

73. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said actuator comprises a slider.

74. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said actuator comprises a joystick.

75. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said musical instrument comprises a body having an attached neck, wherein said actuator is attachable to said neck.

76. The lighting system according to claim 75, wherein said actuator is attachable to one end of said neck.

77. The lighting system according to claim 75, wherein said neck comprises a fretboard, and wherein said actuator is attachable to said fretboard.

78. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said musical instrument comprises vibrating strings.

79. The lighting system according to claim 68, wherein said light source is configured to illuminate hands of a musician playing said musical instrument.

80. The lighting system according to claim 68, further comprising:

a plurality of actuators attachable to said musical instrument, each of said plurality of actuators generating control signals responsive to user manipulation, and wherein

said controllable light source emits light responsive to said control signals generated by said plurality of actuators.

81. The lighting system according to claim 68, further comprising:

a plurality of controllable light sources attachable to said musical instrument, each of said plurality of light sources emitting light responsive to said control signals.

82. The lighting system according to claim 68, further comprising:

a control unit comprising stored program control, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to said stored program control and said user manipulation of said actuator.

83. The lighting system according to claim 82, wherein said stored program control comprises sequencing.

84. A lighting system for a musical instrument, comprising:

a controllable light source, said light source emitting light responsive to control signals generated by a floor controller which is externally located relative to said musical instrument; and

an attachment mechanism for attaching said controllable light source to said musical instrument.

85. The lighting system according to claim 84, further comprising:

a transducer generating a music signal responsive to user manipulation of a musical producing component of said musical instrument.

86. The lighting system according to claim 84, wherein said floor controller is under stored program control.

87. The lighting system according to claim 86, wherein said stored program control comprises sequencing.

88. The lighting system according to claim 84, wherein said control signals are generated responsive to a MIDI signal.

89. The lighting system according to claim 84, wherein said control signals are MIDI signals.